We head south for the penultimate stop on the Shaw and Partners Summer of Surf dream tour this weekend and Lakes Entrance, Victoria is the host club for the final 5000 point event on the calendar and the final stop of the Victorian Triple Crown.
The Shaw and Partners Summer of Surf has never visited the Gippsland Region of Victoria and to celebrate they’ve put on an absolute show:
- Full 2 day festival of Surf over the 17th & 18th of Feb
- Catch all the finals package action LIVE AND FREE on the Summer of Surf Facebook and then on demand on 7plus.
- $5000 in prizemoney
- 5000 points up for grabs in both the overall and Victorian Triple Crown(VTC) point scores.
- Huge nipper clinic hosted by current World Champion Karlee Nurthen and Shaw and Partners Shannon Eckstein Ironman Classic winner Matt Poole.
- Food trucks and festival around the event.
This one has a real adventure feel about it and we’re heading to one of the most beautiful coastlines anywhere in the world – embrace it guys and girls, this will be a fun one.
PRIZEMONEY
Open Irons – 1. $300 2. $200. 3. $50
Open Individual Events – $100
Open Run Swim Run – $50
Open Relays – $100
Open Double Ski – $50
Open Mixed Taplin Relay – $1,000
Junior Irons – $100
Junior Individual Events (U15 & U17) – $100
POINTSCORE
This is the final 5000-point event of the year. While it may not seem like much, this could make a huge difference for those chasing overall titles, top 40s in the Iron & the coveted, first ever Victorian Triple Crown.
LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE EVENTS
MEN’S BOARD
Number 1 and 2 in the Victorian Triple crown point score in Stephen Kerr and Campbell Asher are sitting this one out, opening the door for a few backmarkers to steal the title here.
Surfers Archie Vernon and Torquay’s Nick Thomas are the highest ranked competitors in this, but I think the northerners will have their way here. Redhead’s Australian bronze medallist Justin McMorland will be feeling the love and Maroochy’s Joel Piper should be on the front as well.
FAVOURITE: Justin McMorland (Redhead)
WATCH FOR: Joel Piper and Archie Vernon
LONG SHOT: Nick Thomas
WOMEN’S BOARD
No show for Warrnambool’s Mia Cook who was chasing three straight wins, opens the door for former Victorian turned Queenslander Grace Harris. Harris could be the favourite in almost everything this weekend, but the quality of board talent in the South means this might be her toughest test of the day.
FAVOURITE: Grace Harris (Alex)
WATCH FOR: Jemima Asher (Torquay)
LONG SHOT: Milli Harris (Torquay)
MEN’S SWIM
The overall point score here is wide open with just 1800 points separating the top 7, a win here might just be enough for any of those men. Joel Piper is a weapon in the water but vicco always throws up some southern sharks who can steal the show.
FAVOURITE: Joel Piper (Maroochy)
WATCH FOR: Archie Vernon (Surfers) Tanner Baxter (Northcliffe)
LONG SHOT: Lachie Grant
WOMEN’S SWIM
Jemima Asher leads the VTC overall and just needs a solid result to wrap this one up. She is the favourite here, but conditions could play a massive role if there is a southern swell. Caitlin Huell will go close, after a second at the Battle of the Bay, but will need a big upset to take the title with only 2 results.
FAVOURITE: Jemima Asher (Torquay)
WATCH FOR: Grace Harris (Alex)
LONG SHOT: Caitlin Huell
MEN’S SKI
This will be the best event of the carnival; with the biggest field and the highest ranked competitors – the men’s ski race will be on!
Dan Lopez Garza (HMB), Macklin Harvey and Campbell Bohan(HMB) current hold the podium places in the VTC and I think one of the 3 will take the title but I’m tipping a boilover in this one, but that won’t affect the overall point score.
FAVOURITE: Tanner Baxter (Northcliffe)
WATCH FOR: DLG, Harvey, Bohan, McMorland, Piper AND THE REST.
LONG SHOT: NEVER COUNT OUT THE FOX – RUSS FOX (HMB)
WOMEN’S SKI
With the top 4 girls on the VTC pointscore missing this one, it’s going to be a drag race for the title between Grace Harris and Lani Steel; Skills pay the bills in women’s ski racing, and I think that’ll be the case here.
FAVOURITE: Grace Harris (Alex)
WATCH FOR: Lani Steel (Jan Juc)
LONG SHOT: Alexis Jane (Jan Juc)
IRONMAN
With back-to-back wins in Victoria, Surfers’ Archie Vernon has the VTC by the scruff of the neck; it’s his to lose but competition is going to be stiff this time around. Freshwater 5000pt winner Joel Piper should be considered the favourite here, but Vernon in his home state might be tough. Tanner Baxter will be very tough to beat, and he continues to improve week after week and Justin McMorland will be up in the mix looking to impress the locals.
FAVOURITE: Joel Piper
WATCH FOR: Tanner Baxter, Archie Vernon & Justin McMorland.
LONG SHOT: Ben Harris & Harris Henderson
IRONWOMAN
A small field in this one, but there is plenty of quality despite the size. Grace Harris is undefeated in the VTC and 9th overall on the Summer of Surf point score; she should wrap this one up but you never know in surf sports. The challenge will come from the Jan Juc, and Torquay girls but it’ll be a tough task. Harris is paying $1.10 and I’d take that money given her form.
FAVOURITE: Grace Harris (Alex)
WATCH FOR: Lani Steel & Jemima Asher
LONG SHOT: Jemma Holt